Liquid dispenser



1961 A. M. DYER 2,997,212

LIQUID DISPENSER Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 a FIG.

INVENTOR. ARTHUR M. DYER BY I ATTORNEYS Aug. 22, A. M. DYER I LIQUID DISPENSER Filed May 18, 1959 2 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR. ARTHUR M. DYER ATTORNEYS E tates nite The present apparatus relates to a liquid dispenser, and more particularly to apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of liquids.

In dispensing liquids from a plurality of reservoirs it is diflicult to adjust and correlate the rates of flow from the various reservoirs to produce liquid quantities from each reservoir which bear a continuing proportional relationship to each other. For example, if we assume that We have a pair of identical, filled reservoirs and wish to obtain liquid quantities of one gallon and ten gallons, respectively, from these reservoirs, it is possible to select sizes of outlets which will achieve this for a very limited period of time. However, the pressure head of the second reservoir will drop much more rapidly than the first, and it will be seen that the ratio of quantities dispensed will immediately vary. Thus, for each gallon dispensed from the first reservoir we will get something less than the desired ten gallons from the second reservoir because the pressure heads in the two reservoirs are no longer the same.

According to the present invention, a liquid dispenser apparatus is provided which comprises walls or other means forming a reservoir or receptacle for liquids. This receptacle is divided into a plurality of reservoirs or compartments by walls which are deformable or displaceable. The nature of the walls is such that they are displaced by a higher pressure head in one compartment, as compared with the adjacent compartment on the other side of the wall. The displaceability of the walls will, as will be seen, adjust the pressure head at the outlets from the various compartments so that they are essentially the same. Because the pressure heads are the same, it will be apparent that liquids will be discharged at rates which do not change substantially even though one compartment may be supplied with liquid at a higher pressure than the liquid supplied to an adjacent compartment. The phenomenon is substantially similar where the liquids in adjacent compartments are of different densities.

The present invention also provides means for adjusting the rates of flow through the compartment outlets by providing means which define a plurality of different size orifices interposable in the path of the liquids flowing from the various compartments. in addition, the invention comprehends the provision of a manifold which is adapted to accept the fluid flows from the various compartments and to discharge these flows through a single valve means.

The present apparatus has particular application to proportioning equipment for proportioning liquid materials for later mixture or blending to produce lubricant oils, beverages, chemicals, liquid foods, or paints. The present apparatus operates to measure or meter out pre determined or pro-selected quantities of various component liquids for the production of a desired composite liquid end product. For example, if the present appara tus were used to mix paints, it will be apparent that this affords an opportunity for paint stores to mix color shades immediately upon receipt of customer orders, thereby avoiding the stocking of a multiplicity of shades, and avoiding the delay of ordering the shade from a central warehouse. With the present apparatus it is merely necessary for the user to dial a certain number combination, which adjusts the quantity of paint discharged from the various compartments in a manner to be described. Then, since the machine is efiective to maintain a substantially equal flow of components regardless of the varyatent ing pressure heads of the various liquid sources for the compartments, the openings of selector valves may be varied to discharge constant metered quantifies of each component paint color to thereby produce the composite shade desired. The drain or discharge valve is located so that each of the conduits from the compartments to the valve are always full of the liquids to be dispensed.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification and appended drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred form of the invention, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of the apparatus of the present invention, illustrated diagrammatically in association with usual tanks, motor, and pumps;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the dispenser apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail view in cross section, illustrating one of the valves for varying the rate of flow of incoming liquid;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail view in cross section, illustrating one of the end valves for metering the rate of flow of incoming liquid;

FIGURE 5 is a detail cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating a selector valve;

FIGURE 6 is a view taken along line 66 of FIG- URE 5.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a liquid dispenser for dispensing measured quantities of liquids, and which will hereinafter be described in connection with the blending or dispensing of three liquid components, designated generally as liquids A, B, and C, to produce a composite liquid having proportions which are pre-selected in a manner which will be described. It will be apparent that the apparatus, generally designated 1G, is useful in a variety of applications, and therefore the description hereinafter made will not be directed to any particular type of material, such as paints 01' the like.

Apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of compartments 12, 14, and 16 which are formed by the walls of cylinder 18 and the end walls 20 and 22 thereof. End walls 20 and 22 may be secured in fluid-tight relationship against the ends of cylinder 18 by any suitable means, such as by bolts or the like (not shown). The interior walls of compartments 12, 14, and 16 are formed by flexible or displaceable walls or diaphragms 24, made of a flexible or yieldable material such as neoprene rubber or the like. Various types of plastic are also useful, such as nylon or polyethylene. Each diaphragm 24 is secured within an internal circumferential groove provided in the interior surface of cylinder 18, and a snap ring 26 acts to removably retain diaphragm 24 in position within this groove. Ring 26 is preferably made of springy or resilient metal, and may be arranged in the groove adjacent to diaphragm 24, as illustrated.

Dispenser 1% is fed with liquids A, B, and C through conduits 28 connected between dispenser 10 and a plurality of tanks 30, 32, and 34. These tanks contain varying amounts of liquids, depending upon the amount which is dispensed by each over a period of time. That is, although they are originally filled to the same level, in a short period of time the liquid level in one tank will be quite diiferent from that of another so that the pressure head existing in the various outlet conduits 28 will also be different.

Although it is not critical or essential to the present invention, it is usually convenient to circulate the liquids in the tanks, and for illustrative purposes there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a plurality of pumps 36 which are operated by a single drive shaft 38 connected between the pumps and a motor 40. Any usual form of motor 40 and pumps 36 which are effective to circulate the liquids in the tanks are satisfactory for use with the present invention. In operation, motor 40 is operated to cause pumps 36 to circulate liquids through the tanks, and hold the liquids in readiness for dispensing by dispenser 16.

As will be described hereinafter, liquids emanating from dispenser 10 will be fed through dispenser outlet conduits 42, 44, and 46 to a drain or discharge valve 48. The action of dispenser lit is to cause the rate of flow from compartments 12, 14, and 16 to be substantially equal regardless of the pressure head resulting from the variations in pressure head in tanks 30, 32, and 34. Since the rates of flow through condits 42, 44, and 46 are substantially equal, it will be apparent that measurement or metering may be easily accomplished by valves 50, 52, and 54 which are interposed in the conduits 4'2, 44, and 46, respectively, between apparatus 1t and discharge valve 48.

Each of the valves 5%, 52, and 54 are identical, and valve 5% is illustrated in detail in FIGURES 5 and 6 to show the details of construction of all three. Conduit 42 is shown entering at the top of the hollow body of valve 5t), and is shown leaving at the bottom of valve St The section of the conduit 42 which is at the bottom of valve 50 is covered by the edge of a disk 56 which is rotatably mounted to the adjacent wall of valve 56 by a pin which projects through the wall and which has a selector knob 58 mounted on the outer end thereof. As will be apparent, rotation of knob 58 to a rotated position identified by indicia on the outer face of the wall {not shown) will also rotate disk 56. Disk 56 has a plurality of successively larger openings 60 which, when brought into alignment with the outlet opening for conduit 42 will meter the flow of liquid through conduit 42 to valve 48 in accordance with the size of the opening 6%) which has been selected. Thus, valve 50 serves to proportion or meter a selected quantity of liquid to discharge valve 48.

Discharge valve 48 is located above the level of the valves 50, 52, and 54 so that conduits to valve 48 are always full of liquid, and will not fiow out without the opening of one or more of the valves 50, 52, and 54. That is, a definite pressure is required to move liquid out of discharge valve 48. Discharge valve 48 constitutes a common manifold for the collection of the various fluid components flowing into it, and is provided with a knob 62 or the like for opening and closing the valve. The details of the construction of valve 48 are not important to the present invention, it being important only that valve 48 collect the varying quantities of incoming liquids in a common chamber for discharge through a discharge outlet 64.

Coming now to a description of the interior of apparatus 19, the number of compartments can be increased or decreased as desired, and in the case of a paint dispensing apparatus the number of compartments may be fairly high in order to provide a wide selection of color shades.

Each of compartments 12, 14, and 16 are essentially similar except that the end compartments have their outer walls formed by the rigid end walls 26 and 22 of cylinder 18. The materials of the various components of apparatus are selected so as to be resistant to the types of materials to be handled. The material of diaphragm 24 is made flexible or stretchable to make the various compartments akin to a plurality of collapsible bags, as described in my co-pending application Serial No. 770,]46. That is, the material of each diaphragm 24 is made suiriciently yieldable or displaceable that it will be moved when the pressure on one side thereof is greater than the pressure on the other side thereof. This would likewise be true for material of different densities.

On either side of diaphragm 24, FIGURE 2, there is located a shield 66 having a plurality of horizontally disposed openings 68. These shields 66 are mounted in internal circumferential grooves provided in the interior wall of cylinder 18, and are held in position by snap rings 26 like the snap rings 26 of the diaphragm 24. Holes 68 permit liquid material to pass for access to diaphragm 24.

Each shield 66 is provided with a central opening for slidably accommodating a valve rod 70 or a valve casing rod 72, as the case may be, FIGURE 3. The outer ends of rods 79 and 72 are fixedly secured in any suitable fashion to diaphragms 24, and the inner ends of rods 70 and 72 are disposed within the casing of modulator valve 74.

Modulator valve 74 includes a cylinder 76 which is threaded at one end to accept a cap 78, and cap 78 is provided with a central, threaded bore for rigid securement to the inner end of valve casing rod 72. The opposite end of valve casing or cylinder 76 includes a central opening for slidably accommodating rod 70 whereby relative movement may occur between valve 74 and rod 70 through sliding movement of rod 70 in this opening. The central opening is surrounded by a plurality of other openings 73 to permit liquid within the interior of chamber 12 to enter the hollow interior of valve 74.

Valve 74 is connected to the conduit 28 from tank 3%? by a conduit 3% which is made of flexible material. Conduit 89 may be made of neoprene rubber or the like so as to constitute a hose which will accommodate itself to relative movement between the inlet 82 to compartmerit 12 and the inlet to valve 74.

The inner end of rod 70 within the hollow body of valve 74 is tapered to a conical end portion 84 which is adapted to mate within a central opening provided in a rigid wall 36 which is transversely disposed within valve 74. More particularly, longitudinal or axial movement of rod 70 serves to vary the relative position between end portion 84 and the edge periphery forming the central opening in wall 86 so that the amount of liquid flowing from conduit through valve 74 and out of openings 73 will be varied in accordance with this relative position. Similarly, movement of valve casing 76, when the position of valve rod 79 is fixed, will vary the flow of liquid from conduit 86 out of openings 73.

The valve of FIGURE 4 is very similar to that of FIGURE 3 except that end portion 84 is movable in a valve casing 76 formed by walls which are connected to the end of cylinder 18. Because of this, valve casing 76 is permanently fixed and does not move in the manner in which valve casing 76 is capable of moving.

In operation, the various tanks 30, 32, and 34 are filled, and motor 40 is started in order to operate pumps 36 for the circulation of liquids through the tanks. Assuming that the liquid levels in the tanks are as indicated in dotted outline at A, B, and C of FIGURE 1, the pressure head in tank 32 will be greater than the pressure heads for liquids A and C. Thus, the two diaphragms 24 on either side of compartment 14 will be moved outwardly. This outward movement will move the valve rod 70 in compartment 16 and effect a greater opening in wall 86 through which liquid may flow into compartment 16 through openings 23. Similarly, rod 70 in compartment 14 will move to the right, causing the opening in wall 86 to close slightly and reduce the flow of liquid through conduit 80 into compartment 14. Likewise, valve rod 70 for compartment 12 (not shown) will be moved to the left and enlarge the opening for incoming liquid, as described in connection with compartment 16. Thus, a greater flow of liquid will be permitted to the two end compartments 12 and 16, as compared With the more restricted flow into compartment 14. As a result, the amount of liquid which will flow out of the compartments through valves 50, 52, and 54 will be the same, provided that the opening 60 is the same for each of the valves 50, 52, and 54. Let us next assume that the opening 60 for valve 52 is selected to be fairly large in comparison to the two end compartments. Un-

der this condition a large quantity of liquid will flow out of compartment 14, reducing the internal pressure against diaphragms 24. This will cause an axial, relative inward movement of valve portion 84 and valve casing 76 to thereby provide a greater flow of liquid into compartment 14. In summary, it will be seen that diaphragms 24, together with the valves 74, tend to equalize the liquid pressure existing at each of the outlets from the compartments 12, 14, and 16 by reason of the displacement of the diaphragms 24 in conformance with the pressures within the various compartments. Thus, regardless of the amount or density of liquid remaining in tanks 30, 32, and 34, the pressures at the outlets from the compartments will be substantially the same. It has been found preferable to make the maximum size or area opening between each valve portion 84 and the edge defining wall of the opening in wall 86 greater than the sum of all of the areas of the outlets from compartments 12, 14, and 16.

In many applications it is desirable to have a large number of individual liquids dispensed for commingling within the manifold of valve 48. Accordingly, the number of compartments 14 can be increased to provide a container or cylinder 18 having two end compartments 12 and 16, and several intermediate compartments 14. Let us assume now that an intermediate compartment 14 has a low outlet pressure, either by reason of relatively low liquid level in its reservoir, or for some other reason. Then, when valve 48 is opened, and some or all of valves 50, 52, and 54 are opened, the partitions or diaphragms 24 in the low pressure compartment Will be displaced and moved together inwardly to open its valve 74. This movement is transferred by the various valve portions 84 and valve casings 76 to all the higher pressure compartments to thereby reduce the openings of their respective valves 74 and effect equalization of the pressures in the various compartments. It is to be noted that the axial travel of valve portions 84 and casings 76 is made such that the inlet valve 74 of the lowest pressure compartment will always be fully open, and the valves 74 of all other compartments will equalize the pressures of such compartments with that of the lowest compartment, While supplying the necessary liquid to replenish the demands upon their own particular compartment. The outlet pressure for all of the compartments is thus controlled by the outlet pressure of the lowest pressure compartment.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpreta tion within the terms of the following claims:

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing quantities of liquids, said apparatus comprising a plurality of compartments for receiving liquids from a plurality of sources, each compartment having an outlet and each compartment having at least one displaceable wall portion; valve means operable for varying the flow of liquids from said plurality of sources into said plurality of compartments; means connected between said valve means and said wall portions for operating said valve means in response to displacement of said wall portions; and means connected to each said outlet of said compartments for controlling the quantity of liquid flowing through each said outlet.

2. Apparatus for dispensing quantities of liquids, said apparatus comprising a plurality of compartments for receiving liquids from a plurality of sources, each compartment having an outlet and each compartment having at least one displaceable wall portion; valve means operable for varying the flow of liquids from said plurality of sources into said plurality of compartments; means connected between said valve means and said Wall portions for operating said valve means in response to displacement of said wall portions; a discharge valve; and means connected between said discharge valve and each said outlet of said compartments and operable for regulating the quantity of liquid flowing through each said outlet.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 and characterized in that said last-mentioned means includes means defining a series of orifices selectively interposable in the path of liquids flowing from said outlets to thereby regulate the quantities of liquid flowing therefrom.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 and characterized in that said discharge valve islocated at a height greater than the height of said last-mentioned means.

5. Apparatus for dispensing quantities of liquids, said apparatus comprising a plurality of compartments for receiving liquids from a plurality of sources, each compartment having an outlet and at least one displaceable wall portion; valve means for each compartment operable for varying the flow of liquids from said plurality of sources into said plurality of compartments, each said valve means including a valve member and a valve seat; means connecting each said valve member and each said valve seat to opposite wall portions of one of said compartments, one of said wall portions being said displaceable wall portion; and means connected to each said outlet of said compartments for controlling the quantity of liquid flowing through each said outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

